Toy vehicle track support structure

ABSTRACT

A support structure including a track connector for distorting the track of a toy vehicle to make the vehicle perform stunts. The connector grips the bottom portion of the track and holds the track in an inverted or upside down position. The connector is vertically adjustable as well as rotatable relative a reference base so as to allow manipulation by an operator of the toy vehicle track system.

mte States Patent 1 1 a 1 3,712,53g

Starr et al. 51 Jan. 23, 1973 1541 TOY VEHICLE TRACK SUPPORT 1,599,699 9/1926 Zabel ..104 55 STRUCTURE I 3,581,987 1/1971 Tomaro .238/10 E [75] inventors: Stanley R. Starr, Hermosa Beach; Russe C. Edmisson Manhattan Beach both of Cahf Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif. Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [22] Filed: Feb 2, 1971 Attorney-Seymour A. Scholmck 1 1 pp 111,918 57 ABSTRACT A support structure including a track connector for [52] W238/10 E, 46/1 K, 104/60 distorting the track of a toy vehicle to make the vehi- [51] hit. Cl. ..A63h 19/36 cle perform Stunts The connector grips the bottom [58] Fleld of Search {8-10 E; portion of the track and holds the track in an inverted 246/1 104/60 46/1 K or upside down position. The connector is vertically 56 R f d adjustable as well as rotatable relative a reference 1 e erences l e base so as to allow manipulation by an operator of the UNITED STATES PATENTS toy vehicle track system.

1,828,536 10/193] Koerber ..238/l0 E 11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures track into various shapes.

TOY VEHICLE TRACK SUPPORT STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support structure for a toy track and, more particularly, to an adjustable support structure for contorting a miniature toy vehicle track layout so as to allow a toy vehicle moving along the track layout to perform various stunts.

2. Description of the Prior Art Small toy vehicles have become exceedingly popular among small children as well as adults. In one particular form, the vehicles are small automobiles of various designs, all of which have freely rotatable wheels.

These small automobiles are usually intended to function with a track layout comprising a number of track sections and track section connectors. The vehicle and tracks may best be understood by referring to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,487,999 and 3,510,981 to A. W. B. Nash et al. and H. W. La Branche et al., respectively. Newer model vehicles have recently been introduced which are powered by small electric motors energized by small rechargeable batteries. These miniature cars are also designed to cooperate with a track layout to provide hours of exciting play simulating automobile racing and stunt shows.

There is a continuing effort to not only simulate real vehicles in appearance but also to simulate real vehicles in function and operation. Further, different accessories have been developed and are in the process of being developed to add to the track layout to provide even more excitement. For example, present track accessories include loops, curves, jump ramps, starting gates, finishing gates, power boosters, speedometers, lap counters and trestles to name just a few. Continuing efforts are also being made to reduce the manufacturing costs of the vehicles, tracks and accessories so as to allow the broadest possible marketing of these toys at reasonable prices.

4 SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention is of a new and exciting accessory to add to existing track layouts. The accessory is a toy'vehicle track support structure comprising a support element disposed on a reference base; an arm connected to and extended away from the support element; anda track connector connected to the arm for attaching to the track whereby the track can be supported in a preselected position.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide an adjustable track support structure which contorts the track to allow a toy vehicle moving along the track to perform various stunts.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an adjustable track support structure for bending the Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable track support structure which is reliable, easily manipulated, inexpensive to manufacture and easily packaged.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable track support structure supporting a track in a inverted curve.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the support structure taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, modified, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the support structure contorting the track into a combination loop and curve.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a support structure which has contorted the track into a curve and loop combination.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a support structure which has contorted the track into a double loop.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not the intention to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed; but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. I, there is illustrated a support structure 10 connected to a track or roadway 12 for supporting the track in a distorted position. Referring to FIG. 5, a cross section of the track 12 illustrates that the track is comprised of a support portion 14 having a running surface portion 16 from which projects two oppositely disposed guide flanges 18 and 20 for retaining a vehicle on the running surface portion l6 .-Depending from the support portion 14 are two L-shaped flanges 22 and 24 which form with a lower surface 26 of the support portion 14, a receptacle to receive a track connector, such as the connector 28, FIGS. 1 and 5. For purposes of clarity, the track may be considered to be divided into two general portions, the running surface portion 16 and the remainder of the track which will be referred toas the non-running surface portion. It is to be understood that while the track support structure 10 is designed to cooperatively function with the particular track configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, the support structure may be used with any other type of track simply by changing the shapeof the connector which joins or attaches to the track. Thus, the particular track configuration and the connector, which will be described in more detail hereinbelow, are not to be considered limiting the invention since any miniature toy vehicle track of any other designs are susceptible of use with the present invention.

7 In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the support structure is simply constructed so as to be reliable and easily manipulated by even a small child while at the same time being inexpensive to manufacture and easily packaged so as to be marketable at a reasonable price. Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the support structure comprises a support element including a support tower 30 and a support column 32 mounted to the tower. The tower has four elongated walls 29, 31, 33 and 35, FIG. 3, and an internal central sleeve 34 to receive the column 32 through an opening 36 in the upper wall 37 of the tower. A second opening 38 is provided in the wall 29 to receive a locking mechanism 39 comprising an actuation button 40 integral with an engagement frame 42, FIG. 3, having an opening 44 for receiving the column 32. In addition, the frame includes a projection 46 which cooperates with a projection 48 integral with the wall 33 for locating a compression spring 50 to bias the actuation button 40 outwardly from the wall 29 while at the same time causing engagement between the frame 42 and the column 32. The tower is situated on a platform 51 which serves as a horizontal reference base though the tower may easily be placed on another base such as a floor which would then serve as a generally horizontal reference base. The need for a reference is due to the distortion of the track where the running surface portion will deviate from a position parallel to the reference base such as when the track is laid upon the floor with the running surface portion facing upwardly. As another reference, the tower and column may be considered as having a longitudinal axis (not shown) coincident with the central longitudinal axes of the column and the central sleeve 34 and generally perpendicular to the horizontal reference base.

The support column 32 is comprised of a series of serrations formed by designing the column with a series of truncated conical elements placed end to end. Thus, the column comprises in the main, a series of slanted surfaces 52 and a series of abutment surfaces 54. The abutment surfaces prevent the column from being moved in an upward generally vertical direction relative the tower unless the locking mechanism 39 is actuated to disengage the column. An upward force is created by the centrifugal force of a vehicle moving along the running surface portion which is inverted in FIG. 2. That is, the running surface portion inverted relative the reference base so that a vehicle is actually momentarily defying gravity as it moves along the track. In a like fashion, the slanted surfaces 52 cooperate with the locking mechanism to restrain or at least retard movement of the column in a downward vertical direction relative to the tower. Affixed to the column and extending in an outwardly lateral direction is an arm 60 to which is connected a connector 62. The arm 60 extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the column-tower and has an opening 64 to allow a lock mechanism 66 which is connected to the connector 62 to be moved relative the arm in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the column-tower.

The lock mechanism 66 may be understood by reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 and comprises a handle 68, a connecting shaft 70, a cam body 72 and a washer 74. The handle 68 is rotatable with the shaft 70 which, in turn, is attached to the washer 74 and the connector 62. The handle 68 includes two depending legs 76 and 78 which are cam followers along the cam body 62. The handle when situated as shown in phantom line in FIG. 4 allows the lock mechanism 66 and the connector 62 to be movable along the opening 64 of the arm. Once a predetermined position is reached, the handle 68 is rotated about 90 causing the cam follower legs 76 and 78 to ride upwardly upon the cam body 72, the shaft to be moved upwardly relative the arm 60 and the washer 74 to move upwardly until abutment with the arm occurs. When the handle 68 reaches the position shown in FIG. 2 (and solid line in FIG. 4), the washer is in engagement with the arm while the cam follower legs 76 and 78 have reached the highest portion of the cam body 72 causing the lock mechanism to tightly engage or grip the arm 60.

It is clear from FIG. 2 that the column may be moved in a vertical direction relative the tower simply by releasing the lock mechanism 39; the column may also be rotated relative the tower regardless of the position of the lock mechanism. Thus, the arm and connector are movable vertically (that is parallel to the columntower longitudinal axis) or in a rotational fashion relative the reference base 51 or a floor upon which the track and the track support structure may be disposed.

It is, or course, to be understood that while the present embodiment has the arm 60 attached to the column 32 with the column movable relative the tower, a minor modification of the support structure would allow the column and tower to be fixedly attached or integral with the arm movable relative the columntower, for example. Thus, the support element, which in the preferred embodiment includes the column and the tower which are movable relative one another, is intended to include a column or pole and base which is integral or rigidly attached, or a base or tower of an elongated design which may not include a column. It is further to be understood that while the connector 62 comprises a six-sided plate which is received within the receptacle formed by the depending flanges 22 and 24 and the bottom surface 26, as mentioned hereinabove, other connectors may be used depending upon the cross-sectional shape of the track. It is conceived that any track connector may be used which grips a track in any fashion without disturbing the running surface portion over which a toy vehicle moves. Thus, any connector attaching to the non-running surface portion of the track is sufficient.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is illustrated two additional embodiments which are somewhat different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. For example, the FIG. 7 embodiment includes a support tower 300 large enough to mount two columns 32a and 32b and two arms 60a and 60b. Thus, the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 7 are virtually identical, except for the multiplication of columns and arms shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, a support tower 30b identical to the tower 30a, FIG. 7, is shown having two arms 80 and 82 with fixed connectors 84 and 86, respectively, rather than movable connectors as shown in the FIGS. 1 and 7 embodiments. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the support structure has one less direction of movement as compared to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 7, though this could be altered by making the arms 80 and 82 articulated, for example.

Referring now to FIG. I again, the tower 30 is mounted to the platform 51. The platform includes nine connector pads, such as the connector pad 28, to which the track 12 may be connected in addition to being connected to the connector 62.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the various embodiments of the support tower are shown supporting tracks in various predetermined positions. This causes a vehicle riding along the running surface portions to move through various maneuvers thereby providing an exciting stunt show for the operator of the track layout. For example, in FIG. 6, the support structure 10 has distorted the track into a combination curve and loop with the curve portion being designated 100 and the loop portion being designated 102. In FIG. 7, the support structure 10a has also formed the track into a combination loop and curve. In FIG. 8, the support structure 10b has formed the track section into a double loop comprising the loops 1M and 106. It is noted that in each case the track is connected not only to the support structure but to the platform to which the support structure is connected. While this appears to be preferable, it is not to limit the invention since the platform is not needed for the support structure to function. For example, the support tower may have an enlarged base portion and/or the tower may be weighted.

We claim:

1. A toy vehicle track support structure comprising:

a base;

a support extending upwardly from said base;

at least one cantilever arm extending generally horizontally from said support spaced upwardly from said base;

means supporting said arm on said support for rotation about a generally vertical axis through said support; and

connector means positioned on the underside of said arm outwardly of said support for engaging and releasably holding a portion of toy vehicle guide track in inverted position above said base.

2. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively adjusting the height of said arm relative to said base.

3. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively adjusting the horizontal distance between said connector means and said support.

4. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including means for holding another portion of a guide track in fixed relation to said base below the level of said connector means.

5. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including a second of said cantilever arms and associated connector means on said support.

6. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including a column vertically slidable and rotatable in said support, said arm being fixed to said column; and means on said support for holding said column in a selected vertical position.

7. A toy vehicle track and support combination comprising:

a base;

a support extending upwardly from said base;

a cantilever arm extending generally horizontally from said support spaced upwardly from said base; connector means on the underside of said arm outwardly of said support a section of resiliently fiexible trackway having a vehicle guiding surface and an opposed supporting surface, said trackway being arranged with a first portion thereof adjacent said base and with its vehicle guiding surface uppermost, and a second portion at said connector means with its supporting surface uppermost and releasably secured to said connector means, the portion of said trackway between said first and second portions being resiliently flexed to define a smoothly curved vehicle guiding surface between and including said portions.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 including means on said base engaging and holding said first portion of said trackway in fixed relation thereto.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 including means for selectively adjusting the height of said arm relative to said base.

10. The combination defined in claim 9, including means for selectively adjusting the horizontal distance of said connector means from said support.

11. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said cantilever arm is mounted on said support for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis through said support. 

1. A toy vehicle track support structure comprising: a base; a support extending upwardly from said base; at least one cantilever arm extending generally horizontally from said support spaced upwardly from said base; means supporting said arm on said support for rotation about a generally vertical axis through said support; and connector means positioned on the underside of said arm outwardly of said support for engaging and releasably holding a portion of toy vehicle guide track in inverted position above said base.
 2. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively adjusting the height of said arm relative to said base.
 3. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively adjusting the horizontal distance between said connector means and said support.
 4. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including means for holding another portion of a guide track in fixed relation to said base below the level of said connector means.
 5. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including a second of said cantilever arms and associated connector means on said support.
 6. A support structure as defined in claim 1 including a column vertically slidable and rotatable in said support, said arm being fixed to said column; and means on said support for holding said column in a selected vertical position.
 7. A toy vehicle track and support combination comprising: a base; a support extending upwardly from said base; a cantilever arm extending generally horizontally from said support spaced upwardly from said base; connector means on the underside of said arm outwardly of said support; a section of resiliently flexible trackway having a vehicle guiding surface and an opposed supporting surface, said trackway being arranged with a first portion thereof adjacent said base and with its vehicle guiding surface uppermost, and a second portion at said connector means with its supporting surface uppermost and releasably secured to said connector means, the portion of said trackway between said first and second portions being resiliently flexed to define a smoothly curved vehicle guiding surface between and including said portions.
 8. The combination defined in claim 7 including means on said base engaging and holding said first portion of said trackway in fixed relation thereto.
 9. The combination defined in claim 7 including means for selectively adjusting the height of said arm relative to said base.
 10. The combination defined in claim 9 including means for selectively adjusting the horizontal distance of said connector means from said support.
 11. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said cantilever arm is mounted on said support for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis through said support. 